When it was about time, Natsukawa and Ibuki Mio walked into the Gymnasium.
On their way in, they received detailed club guides listing the school's clubs and basic introductions to them.
Natsukawa had no intention of joining a club, so he found a corner to stand in with Ibuki. Ibuki leafed through the club guide in her hands, while Natsukawa looked over the various students around them, checking for anyone he had yet to interact with who met the system's target criteria.
Next, a beautiful upperclasswoman walked onto the temporary stage set up in the Gymnasium, and a voice rang out.
"First-years, sorry for the wait. Club representatives will now begin the club information session. I'm Tachibana, the Student Council secretary, and I'll be hosting today's session. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Ding! Target found: Ju Qian. Academic ability: A Physical ability: B Affability: B Intelligence: B Judgment: B
Besides Ju Qian, Natsukawa also spotted many other characters below the stage who qualified as the system's conquest targets.
Even Natsukawa had already begun thinking about which people he needed.
This one works. Not this one. I can't take care of everyone if there are too many...
Next, the club presidents began introducing their clubs onstage one after another to attract new students. The more members they had, the more funding they could request from the school, allowing them to further pursue their interests in the clubs they loved.
Seeing Natsukawa looking ahead and around him, Ibuki Mio had a feeling his attention had to be on those pretty female students.
So she spoke up to interrupt him:
"Hmph! Are you really not joining a club?"
Natsukawa asked in confusion:
"Yeah. Didn't I already tell you?"
Ibuki nodded coolly:
"Nothing. I just wanted to check again. Those upperclasswomen are pretty, aren't they? Especially the clubs wearing kimonos. Have you thought about checking them out? You might even meet some cute girls in our year there!"
Natsukawa looked at Ibuki and replied with a smile:
"Hehe, why do you say that, Ibuki? You do have a point, though. I could make quite a few friends."
"Tch. Join if you want."
"Hehe, could it be that you're jealous, Ibuki?"
"Tch, how stupid!"
Ibuki immediately retorted in a disdainful tone, raising her clenched right fist in a threatening gesture.
"If you make another ridiculous joke like that, I'll punch you!"
Natsukawa said with a smile:
"Haha, there's no point in knowing so many people. Ibuki, I'm already happy to have you as a friend."
Natsukawa continued complaining:
"Speaking of which, Ibuki, could you call me Natsukawa before you start talking to me? You're really rude."
Ibuki replied somewhat awkwardly:
"Tch, who's your friend? We're just interacting as classmates. We've only known each other for a day, so don't get the wrong idea! I'm going to check out the Track and Field Club. We can talk another time."
Ding! Affection Rating +5
With that, Ibuki headed toward the recruiting area, where those who had finished introducing their clubs had come down from the stage and were stationed at their respective club booths.
It rather felt like she was beating a hasty retreat.
Natsukawa shook his head helplessly with a smile. She really wasn't honest with herself.
But the system's Affection Rating couldn't lie. Once he raised it to 90, it wouldn't drop again.
Still, he hadn't expected Ibuki, cold on the outside but warm on the inside, to come from behind among his current targets and have her Affection Rating rise the fastest.
After just one brief day of contact, she was already close to reaching the special friend level.
Since Natsukawa was standing in a corner at the edge, two people passed in front of him, apparently also intending to stand along the edge farther ahead.
And they were both familiar faces.
Horikita Suzune and Ayanokoji.
Horikita Suzune stopped and said:
"Tch, what an unpleasant encounter!"
Natsukawa hadn't expected to run into them either. For an instant, the thought even crossed his mind: Could Ayanokoji have set his sights on me? He then dismissed the idea. It was probably just a chance encounter. After all, everyone was gathering near the stage in the Gymnasium now.
Natsukawa replied with a smile:
"Hi, Horikita! Long time no see!"
Horikita said coldly:
"Natsukawa, have you developed senile memory loss? We only saw each other this morning. How pathetic! Your memory is already failing at such a young age!"
She really is an upgraded version of Ibuki Mio. I've already got experience winning over the cold type with Ibuki. Why would I get angry? Your taunts only work on ordinary people.
Natsukawa ignored her sharp tongue and continued with a smile:
"Suzune, I didn't expect you to have already remembered my name. Looks like you're quite interested in me too."
"Natsukawa, don't go getting the wrong idea on your own. We aren't close, so please don't address me so familiarly! What an irritating field mouse!"
"All right, Suzune!"
"Ah, Suzune. You're so heartless. I thought we'd already become friends."
Horikita Suzune had no way of dealing with the shameless Natsukawa. Her verbal attacks seemed ineffective against him. Any other male student would probably have left long ago, hurt and feeling inferior after being berated.
Horikita Suzune could only continue coldly:
"Mr. Field Mouse, please don't use those shameless tactics on me! I'm not one of those shallow female students. It looked like you'd just deceived another foolish girl earlier. You were smiling so happily, Mr. Field Mouse!"
Unbothered, Natsukawa said with a smile:
"Suzune, are you jealous?"
Affection Rating -5 Current Affection Rating: 5
(The Affection Rating came from her going back, thinking things over, and realizing that Natsukawa must know something about the school rules.)
Unable to take it anymore, Horikita Suzune realized she couldn't beat him in an argument and launched a knife-hand strike at Natsukawa's abdomen.
Natsukawa caught her wrist firmly with one hand.
Even Natsukawa took the opportunity to stroke her wrist and said with a smile:
"Suzune, don't be rash. I didn't expect you to be a student who advocated violence. Your skin feels surprisingly soft, though."
Realizing she was no match for him, and that she couldn't make any big moves in the Gymnasium or gain anything from a surprise attack, Horikita Suzune could only pull her hand back. Standing still, she said:
"I didn't expect you to have some skill. Too bad we're in the Gymnasium, or you'd be in for a world of pain!"
After that, Horikita Suzune even wiped her hand in disgust and said:
"It looks like I'll have to wash this hand ten times when I get back. You awful rice weevil! Just thinking about your creepy comment, and how you'll go back and imagine my hand while doing something strange, is terrifying!"
"Haha, Suzune, you really are interesting! Have I already been downgraded from a crawling animal to an insect?"
"As long as you understand! It may be a little rude, but Natsukawa, with that awful personality of yours, I don't mind continuing to call you that if you're disrespectful again!"
"So, what did you want to ask about at the school building earlier? Did you get any answers? If not, you can ask me!"
Horikita Suzune said decisively:
"No need! I can judge things for myself!"
Natsukawa gestured with his eyes in the opposite direction and asked with a smile:
"The club recruitment area is over there. Does that mean you aren't planning to join a club either, Suzune?"
Suzune said coldly:
"I'm not interested in that sort of thing!"
"Oh? We really are meant to cross paths, Suzune. We have the same interests. I'm not planning to join a club either!"
Horikita Suzune said icily:
"I take back my earlier assessment of you, Mr. Rice Weevil."
"I already told you I'm not some foolish girl who's easily deceived, so please don't set your sights on me. I have firm convictions of my own! I have no interest in playing house!"
"Suzune, you're really confident!"
"I do make a point of looking in the mirror, you know!"
Ayanokoji: Am I being ignored?
Natsukawa continued:
"Wait, Suzune. Look, some strange man has gone onstage."
Horikita Suzune turned curiously toward the stage, only to freeze.
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